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With a pile of AP classes, extracurriculars, and now a personal obstacle facing her, senior Jazmin Pina shares her story on how she is determined to work through challenges and pursue her dream of going to college.

Jazmin Pina, a senior at Godinez Fundamental High School, begins her school day with Color Guard at 7:00 am and works through four AP classes throughout the day. It is a stressful routine for Pina, but she is nonetheless happy with the support from her family. In recent times, support for Pina has grown immensely- as it has for most DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, students in the United States.

“I feel like I need to work harder” Pina said, “Just because [DACA] is a little set-back, I don’t feel like it has brought me down.”

Although it was disappointing for her to hear about President Donald Trump’s plans and statements towards DACA, she says it only makes her more determined to do what she came here to do.

“It just sums it up that I have to do this with more reason now,” Pina states, “being a student and being able to go to college is not just my dream, but my family’s dream.”

Many students under DACA came to the U.S. as young children, with the parent’s hopes that they could receive a better education and, therefore, a better life in this country. Pina was 5 years old when her parents brought her to the U.S.

Although deportation invokes some fear within other DACA students, Pina says she and DACA students, “can’t stop doing things because [they’re] afraid of them.”

Friend Daisy Zaragoza describes her best friend’s dedication to school and her family.

“She’s [Pina] honestly one of the most hardworking persons I have ever met,” Zaragoza says.

With all the classes and after school work Pina has, Zaragoza explains Pina also has younger sisters to take care of while her parents work.

“Even if she has so much homework,” Zaragoza continues, “she stays up and makes sure her sisters are well fed, have their clothes, and everything is organized.”

Pina ends the interview with a message to other DACA students, saying “It’s not impossible anymore- we can still do it.”

Through all the stress, fear, and confusion over the DACA situation, it has yet to stop students like Pina from achieving their dream of going to college.